Using an electric saw we make boards from logs. Methods for cutting logs on a band sawmill. Preparing for cutting

All photos from the article

In the process various works Often there is a need for longitudinal cutting of logs or beams. For this purpose the most Various types equipment - from stationary sawmills to small installations, but these options cost a lot, and if you need to do a small amount of work, then sawing logs with a chainsaw will be the simplest and most rational solution.

Advantages of using this option

First of all, let’s figure out what advantages this cutting method has:

Important!
In addition to all the above factors, we should not forget the low cost of the structure; purchasing a stationary sawmill will cost several times more.

Overview of some options

We will talk about the two most popular designs that provide best quality when working, and you yourself will determine what is more convenient and preferable in your case.

Homemade option

First, let's look at how to make a device for sawing logs with a chainsaw with your own hands.

The instructions for carrying out the work are as follows:

• It is best to use a frame from an old one school desk or a square pipe with a side of 20x20 or slightly larger.
• First of all, two clamps are made, these are elements 50-60 cm long, at one end of which a crossbar with two holes for tightening bolts and a small protrusion in the middle for clamping the tire is welded, an element of the same configuration is attached on top, the photo below shows already ready-made elements, as you can see, everything is quite simple, and having at hand welding machine, you can make them very quickly.

Wood, like natural stone, is one of the most ancient building materials. Despite the huge selection of various artificially created materials existing on the construction market today, timber is still very popular. In order to obtain high-quality lumber, the log must be cut into boards. In this article we will talk about how to cut a log into boards.

Types of log cutting

Sawing logs into boards is carried out in two main ways:

• radial
• tangential.

In addition, additional methods are possible:

• mixed
• semi-radial (rustic)
• central.

Radial sawing is a type of sawing during which the axis of the cut runs through the core of the log and, as a result, the annual rings in the section of the board form an angle of 76 - 900. The lumber obtained by such a cut has a uniform color and texture. Timber almost does not undergo deformation during drying and does not swell when moistened, because the dimensions of the wood change mainly along the line of the rings (across the grain). In radial sawn timber, the annual rings are arranged according to thickness. Such materials are distinguished by the highest performance indicators in comparison with other types of lumber.

Tangential cutting is carried out along tangents to the lines of annual rings at a short distance from its core. The surfaces of the resulting boards are distinguished by a pronounced texture and a bright wavy pattern of annual rings. Such lumber is characterized by higher coefficients of shrinkage and swelling from moisture compared to radial cut boards. As a result, they are greatly deformed when exposed to moisture. Such boards are in demand for use in dry conditions.

Rustic (semi-radial) and mixed types of cutting have characteristics of two main types of cutting simultaneously: radial and tangential. Therefore, they exhibit average shrinkage and swelling coefficients. Rustic cut boards are distinguished by straight lines of annual rings, which are located at angles of 46 - 75 degrees. to the layers. Mixed sawn timber is distinguished by the fact that the lines change from straight at the edges (along the width) of the board to arched towards the middle.

The center cut is made right in the center of the trunk and contains its core. Taking into account the fact that the core of the trunk is wood with the lowest strength indicators, center-cut lumber is characterized by a structure that is heterogeneous in strength.

Wood balance when sawing

Tools for sawing logs

Tools and cutting methods depend on the total volume of logs, such indicators as length and thickness. In addition, you need to take into account the quality of the future lumber. Cutting a log involves working with different instruments and specialized equipment. In order to obtain a small amount of lumber at home, the manual method of processing logs using a chainsaw or traditional hand saws with teeth for longitudinal cutting.

The sawmill is perhaps the most famous type of sawmill equipment. This is a woodworking machine that contains frame saws. The sawmill produces longitudinal sawn timber, for example, edged boards or timber. Sawmills allow processing logs with a diameter of 15 to 80 cm and a length of up to 7 m.

Cutting logs into boards using circular saws (circular saws) is carried out using a saw disk type. Such equipment can be single-saw (single-disc) and multi-saw (multi-disc). Devices containing one disk are suitable for working with small-sized and low-quality raw materials. Using multi-disc machines you can cut round blanks large diameter.

Band sawmills are the most popular today. They come in two types: vertical and horizontal. The cutting tool in such equipment is a belt blade that is put on pulleys. Working on band saws guarantees the production of high-quality longitudinal and mixed lumber, such as boards and beams. This produces the least amount of waste.

On large industrial enterprises wood sawing lines are used. They allow achieving very high surface quality and precise geometry of the final products. Such lines are characterized by the highest productivity.

In addition to all the equipment listed above, such types of highly specialized sawmill equipment as debarkers, edgers, band-dividers and other types of machines are also used.

Very often there are situations when you need to produce a very small volume of boards or beams for your own needs. Of course, buying machines in this case is absolutely not an option. Having certain knowledge and skills, it is much more profitable to cut logs with my own hands, using an electric or gasoline chain saw. Despite the fact that this work is quite labor-intensive, the result is quite justified.

Most experts believe that a chainsaw is better suited for this purpose. Such equipment has high power and can operate without interruption for a long time. In addition, the operation of a chainsaw does not require electricity, so you can work far from the power supply, for example, right on the plot.

In order to cut a log into boards using a chainsaw, you will also need special tools, such as a mechanism for securing the log, a frame attachment for the chainsaw, and a guide for making the cut. The attachment frame must be attached to the chainsaw bar so that it can be used to adjust the gap between it and the chain. This will make it possible to create boards of different thicknesses. It is worth purchasing a special chain for longitudinal sawing. It has a special tooth sharpening angle. A guide ruler can be made from metal profile the required length or a flat, rigid board.

Before starting work, you need to remove all the bark and remaining branches from the workpieces, and also carefully inspect the log for various flaws. This way you can choose the most suitable scheme cutting and, therefore, reduce the amount of possible waste.

If you are longitudinally sawing trunks, you need to make sure that the resulting lumber is of the same density across the entire width. Since the density of wood from the northern part of the log is much higher than from the southern part, the cut is carried out in a plane directed from east to west (or in the reverse order).

The first step is to remove the slabs from two opposite edges of the log. As a result, a double-edged beam will be obtained, which is then cut into boards or other lumber of equal thickness, according to the intended sawing pattern. The final product is an unedged board, from which the edges must then be removed.

For many centuries, timber has been the most popular raw material for housing construction. Today, primitive processing methods have been replaced by modern equipment. For example, for cutting timber and processing it to required sizes, craftsmen use a sawmill. The disadvantage of such a machine is the cost. For this reason, many people make mini sawmills based on chainsaws.

At any construction site, processed lumber is used in in various forms: beams, boards, slats. They are purchased in stores, in specialized markets and directly at wood processing enterprises (sawmills). But these materials cost several times more than the logs (from which they are cut), and this can significantly affect your budget. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase logs and cut them yourself.

Process theory

In order to understand how to properly cut a log (which is ideally a cylinder), let's turn to theory. There are only three ways to cut a cylinder:

• across;
• along;
• obliquely.

The third method is used very rarely (in specialized projects and developments). Therefore, we will specify the first two methods, which are common and used everywhere.

Method 1. Cut across.

Performed to obtain parts in the form of disks and short cylinders.

Method 2. Cut along.

It is used to produce boards, beams, slats.

Logs are cut at logging enterprises, sawmills, furniture factories and in workshops using various units and devices:

At home this kind of sawing is done:

1. Using saws
2. Grinder with attachments for sawing wood (circular saws);
3. On purchased and homemade mini-sawmills (sawing machines).

Be sure to follow safety precautions. Even regular saw, jumping off the cutting site can cut a finger, a vein or injure a leg.

When working with power tools, use rubber gloves and a mat. Do not operate with wet hands to avoid electric shock.

Exercise extreme caution when working with chain saws, circular saws, and especially with an angle grinder. A slipped chain or flying disc can cut a leg bone, arm bone, or throat.

Preliminary work

Many enterprises have mechanisms for removing bark (barking) from an entire log. It is advisable for you to split the log into pieces and remove the bark from each board. This operation is carried out:

• skobel;
• sharpened shovel;
• electric planer.

When working with a scraper, they strengthen the log and begin to cut off the bark, moving the tool towards themselves. When cleaning with a shovel, the bark is peeled away from you.

Most best result obtained by cleaning with a scraper. It only removes the bark without affecting the tree itself.

How to cut a log into boards

This can be done in different ways. It all depends on your needs. The photos below show various ways, how to cut a log lengthwise and get a variety of lumber.

The sawing technology is as follows:

1. The bark is removed (this operation can be performed at home later).
2. The log is fixed on guides or a frame.
3. One of the slabs is separated (sawed off) to obtain a flat surface.
4. Place the workpiece with a flat surface on the guide (table, bed), fix it again and separate the second slab.
5. Then the entire log is divided into boards.

To cut with a complex pattern (shown above), all the slabs are cut at once, and the workpiece is turned over and fixed several times.

Cutting a log crosswise

It is not particularly difficult even at home. The log is placed on ordinary sawhorses and, gradually moving it, the necessary pieces are sawed off. Or they are mounted on guides and, gradually moving from beginning to end, perform the same operation.

Cutting logs lengthwise

This operation is particularly difficult, since it is necessary to withstand a certain thickness along the entire cut, which can be 6m, 8m, and sometimes more. To do this, the easiest way is to use a jig (special device) that is attached to a saw or log.

Sawing logs on a home sawmill

Many people purchase or make homemade sawmills.

1st view:

At the bottom of the frame, welded from metal angles and plates, is a motor with pulleys (electric or gasoline). A shaft with pulleys is placed at the top, on which one or more circular saws are mounted. A guide made of timber or a metal square is fixed on the table. To move it, cuts must be made (perpendicular to the feed axis)

The log is fed, pressing it against the guide, and moved forward. If there is only one saw, then rulers are strengthened on the surface of the table or markings are applied. After cutting one board, the guide is shifted to the width of the next board (towards the saw) and the operation is repeated.

If there are several saws, then the distance (width of the boards) is fixed between them by inserting the corresponding bushings.

2nd view:

If you don't know how to easily cut a log lengthwise with a chainsaw, then this option is for you.

1. Frame. Welded from channels or profile pipes.
2. Saw. With electric or petrol drive. Mounted on a vertical feed carriage.
3. Chain. It is advisable to purchase a special one - for cutting lengthwise. If there is none, then resharpen your chain.
4. Vertical feed carriage (VPC). Designed to secure the tool and move it in vertical plane screw. To set the accuracy of side cutting on vertical rack the line is strengthened.
5. Carriage guides. They are polished pipes or rods. Designed to move the carriage vertically.
6. Screw (feed mechanism). Installed in bearings. When rotated, it moves the carriage vertically.
7. Log clamps.
8. Longitudinal feed carriage (PPC). Moves the KVP along the trunk.
9. Rollers.

The procedure for working on this structure is as follows:

• The log is strengthened with clamps on the frame.
• The checkpoint is brought to the beginning of the lumber.
• The KVP is lowered with a screw to the required height.
• Turn on the instrument.
• By moving the checkpoint along the log, the slab is cut off.
• Having reached the end, the log is turned over, placed with the flat side on the frame and clamped.
• Lower the carriage again.
• The gearbox is moved back, cutting off the second slab.
• Then the process is repeated, with the difference that you further cut the boards.

When using a reciprocating saw rather than a chain saw, the process is delayed. It can only work in one direction.

Materials

• Steel profiles, pipes, angles, strips, plates;
• Screws, bolts.

Tools

• Saws
  • regular;
  • two-handed;
  • with electric drive;
  • with petrol drive;
• Bulgarian
• Mini sawmill
• Skobel

Whatever you can do with a chainsaw - with the help of all kinds of attachments, this tool becomes very multifunctional. Don't know how to cut a log into boards with a chainsaw? Now we won’t talk about that!

Chainsaw - a tool for all occasions

Most owners have no idea what capabilities are hidden in this seemingly single-function tool. We are talking about what functions, besides sawing logs into firewood, a chainsaw can perform in in capable hands. But just think - the tool is absolutely autonomous, fill the tank with fuel, and work where it’s convenient for you!

A wide range of work results in a powerful, compact and safe Gas engine, who has a very unpretentious “character” and the ability to work in the most difficult conditions. Another good thing about a chainsaw is its sealed fuel supply system, which, in combination with a diaphragm type carburetor, allows it to work in a variety of positions, perhaps not upside down. In addition, the designers provided reliable protection components from overloads and breakdowns in the form of a centrifugal clutch.

Look at the chainsaw from a different point of view - you are holding in your hands a tool that is amazing in its capabilities! This is a universal drive for the most various kinds devices capable of not only sawing wood, but also cutting metal and stone, pumping water, drilling wells, and even serving as a low-power engine!

DIY multi-tool

The most popular attachment, which is even produced by chainsaw manufacturers themselves, is the petrol cutter attachment, which turns the chainsaw into an autonomous version of an angle grinder. The nozzle device is a bearing assembly with a shaft, with a pulley installed at one end, which is driven into rotation by a V-belt. At the other end there is a mandrel for fastening abrasive wheels. By changing circles, such a grinder chainsaw will be able to cut stone, tile, brick and even metal. Of course, the circle is hidden in protective cover, without which work would be such a tool clean water playing roulette - whether you're lucky or not!

Of course, there are a lot of people who will call this method crazy, because you can buy a normal one and not have to worry about changing any attachments! However, in practice, the idea is completely justified - high-speed saws equipped with such attachments work no worse than conventional grinders. Of course, they can't compete with professional powerful tools, but in the economy they justify themselves. This device has two undeniable advantages - autonomy and saving money.

Another professional attachment that can be bought in specialized stores is the so-called debarkers. Their functions exactly correspond to the purpose of the chainsaw and, in fact, increase its capabilities - in addition to cutting wood with the help of debarkers, it can be processed, namely, cleared of bark, growths and branches, and also cut grooves in logs, which is useful in the construction of wooden log houses, and give the rounded surface a flat shape.

Debarkers are divided into disk and drum. The first ones are used for cutting out recesses and mounting grooves, and the drum ones are used for removing bark from logs; they are also called debarkers. The device is a drum or cutter mounted in a bearing unit. The device is driven by a V-belt drive; for this purpose, there is a special pulley on the axis. Taking into account changes in the diameter of the pulley and the engine speed, you can also change the speed of operation of such a tool for optimal processing of wood.

With the help of a chainsaw and the appropriate attachment, you don't have to worry about emergency water supply at home if necessary - you can make a pump from this woodworking tool in a few minutes!

Essentially, the attachment is a regular centrifugal pump that is attached to the saw and driven by the same pulley and belt. The principle of operation is the same as for everyone else centrifugal pumps– one hose is lowered into the water, the second serves pressure hose. Before starting work, liquid is poured into the engine through the plug, which is necessary for the pump to “grab” the pumped water. When the turbine rotates, it creates a reduced pressure inside, due to which water is pumped out. The device is essentially the simplest, but imagine what use it can be when Vacation home de-energized, and the water supply issue needs to be resolved urgently!

With the help of special attachments, a chainsaw can be turned into a drill or a winch, and even into outboard motor, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h with a fuel consumption of 1 l/h. However, these are already rarer cases, while devices for longitudinal sawing of logs, or, as they are called, mini-sawmills, are found quite often.

How to cut a log into planks with a chainsaw - vertical attachment

First of all, it should be noted that no one sets themselves the task of professionally cutting logs with minimum quantity waste. For professional work You also need the appropriate tool, but the attachment for longitudinal sawing of logs will allow you to solve many small problems on the farm. Let's imagine, for example, that an old pear tree has dried up in your garden, and you just need a few boards to fill a hole in the shed. Instead of using a tree trunk for firewood, you can use an attachment to get the material you need.

Devices for longitudinal sawing of logs are divided into vertical and horizontal. Most simple device This is precisely the first option: the adapter is attached to the tire at its base, and with the help of a guide bar the straightness of the adapter’s movement is ensured. This entire structure is attached to a board, which serves as a stop for cutting and at the same time as a guide. The accuracy of such a device is not high - it can be used to cut rough boards or give a log a simple square shape, however, such a device is assigned corresponding tasks.

How to cut a log lengthwise - cut horizontally!

Much greater cutting accuracy is ensured by the horizontal structure, which is a rigid frame attached to the chainsaw bar in two places - at the base and at its end. The attachment points can be shifted to provide the required cutting width. Of course, such a device is intended for small logs, the diameter of which will not be greater than the length of the tire.

Using the guide element you can install required thickness boards The most difficult thing will be to make the first horizontal cut - in order to get an even cut of wood, you need to attach an additional guide frame to the log, which will serve base surface for emphasis. At subsequent stages of dissolving the log into boards, the surface for support and guide is already Smooth surface previous cut.

This design is quite easy to work with. Before sawing a log lengthwise, it must be well secured along its entire length - the less it vibrates, the smoother the cut will be.. To avoid jamming of the chainsaw bar, small wedges are constantly inserted into the cut to prevent clamping. It should be noted that no matter how hard we try, there will be quite a lot of waste compared to a conventional sawmill. To begin, give the log a square shape by cutting upper layer from all sides, and only then proceed directly to dissolving the logs into boards.

It will not be difficult for craftsmen to make attachments of this kind with their own hands when working with welding and metal - the corresponding diagrams on the Internet are not uncommon, and from the material you will need several square hollow pipes, nuts and screws.

The tree, along with natural stone, is one of the oldest building materials. Despite the huge variety of all kinds of artificially created materials currently present on the construction market, wood is still in constant demand. Wood is versatile and available material, and not a single construction project can be completed without its use.

The main raw material for the production of lumber (beams of various sections, edged and unedged boards, etc.) is a log - freed from branches and twigs, as well as from the thinnest upper part of the tree trunk. Logs can be used as a completely independent building material as pillars, piles, masts, etc., however, in most cases they must be sawed to obtain beams and boards. How to cut a log into boards, beams and other lumber will be discussed further.

Sawing logs can be done in various ways:

• manually, using a saw tool;
• on sawmills;
• on woodworking machines and specialized lines.

The price of lumber largely depends on its thickness and the amount of production waste.

In order to make the most efficient use of available raw materials and correctly saw a log, the woodworking industry uses special sawing schemes to reduce the percentage of waste and thus reduce the cost of the final product. Therefore, before cutting a log yourself, it would be useful to familiarize yourself with similar diagrams.

Tools and equipment for sawing logs

Depending on the total number of logs, their length, thickness and expected quality of future lumber, they are used for sawing various instrument and specialized equipment. Quite acceptable for obtaining a small amount of lumber at home manual method processing trunks using chainsaws and conventional hand saws with teeth for longitudinal sawing.

The sawmill is a fairly common type of sawmill equipment. It is a woodworking machine with frame saws, designed for longitudinal cutting of logs to produce edged boards and timber. Sawmills can process logs with a diameter of 15 to 80 cm and a length of up to 7 m.

Sawing tree trunks on circular saws (circular) machines is carried out using circular saw. Such machines can be single-saw (single-disc) and multi-saw (multi-disc). Single disk circular saws As a rule, they work with small-sized and low-quality raw materials. Multi-disc machines are designed for cutting large-diameter round timber.

The most popular currently are the so-called band sawmills, both vertical and horizontal. They use a belt cloth mounted on pulleys as a cutting tool. Band machines provide high-quality longitudinal and mixed sawing of logs into boards and beams with a minimum amount of waste.

Wood sawing lines are used at large enterprises in the production of lumber on an industrial scale. They provide high surface quality and precise geometry of the final product and have the highest productivity.

In addition to the above, other types of highly specialized sawmill equipment are used in the mass production of lumber: debarkers, edgers, band-dividers and other machines.

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Types and methods of cutting logs

Before sawing a log into boards and beams, it is important to choose the most the best way sawing, which is determined by the size, geometry and surface quality of the future lumber, necessary technical requirements, as well as the type of wood. By orientation to the growth rings of the trunk, types of sawing can be distinguished. This:

• radial, carried out precisely along the radius of the growth rings;
• tangential, when sawing is done tangentially to the growth rings, parallel to one of the radii;
• parallel-forming, when cutting occurs parallel to the direction of the fibers (thus achieving minimum slope fibers in lumber).

Depending on the direction of sawing, there are several ways to saw logs:

• waddling sawing;
• sawing with beams;
• segment method;
• sector method;
• circular sawing.

Tumble sawing is carried out using several parallel cuts along the entire cross-sectional plane of the log and produces an unedged board and two slabs at the output. Tumble cutting is the most in a simple way processing of logs and is used mainly for cutting round timber hardwood small diameter, since other methods greatly reduce the width of the finished lumber.

Sawing with beams involves cutting out double-edged timber and side boards at the initial stage. The timber is subsequently sawn into edged boards the same width. Up to 60% of all raw materials are cut using lumber. The disadvantage of this method is the need to use two sawmills simultaneously.

The above methods are the main ones. Much less commonly used special methods: sector and segment. When sector sawing, the log is first divided into several fragments - sectors, numbering from 4 to 8, depending on the diameter of the trunk. These sectors are then sawn into boards along radial or tangential directions.

With the segment method, a beam is cut from the central part of the log, leaving two so-called segments on the sides. The resulting segments are then cut into tangential boards.

The circular sawing method is used for individual cutting of logs and allows you to separate healthy wood from damaged wood. When circular sawing, after sawing off another board or several parallel boards, the trunk rotates around the longitudinal axis by 90° each time.